YORK may have beaten off a threatened tourism disaster.

Latest statistics show visitor numbers soaring above those recorded before floods, rail disruption and fuel protests hit the city.

The latest York Tourism Bureau figures show attractions enjoyed a massive 16 per cent surge in May compared with 12 months ago.

And the number of people staying in the city is back at the level enjoyed during May, 2000.

It is excellent news for businesses, which saw visitor numbers slump by more than 44 per cent at the height of the floods in November.

And it is hoped it marks the end of a disastrous few months in which York has struggled to recover.

Work to attract tourists included a £10,000 advertising campaign and increased marketing.

The business and tourism community rallied to take part in York's Here, an Evening Press-instigated campaign to shout to the world that York was open.

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of York Tourism Bureau, said: "We have found that the people of York really have pulled together to get through this crisis, and it has worked very well.

"It really is marvellous the way that everybody, from the owners of the smallest shops, has contributed to the recovery, and it looks as though that really is paying off now."

Efforts to bring York's main industry back from the slump have resulted in a threefold growth in successful targeting of the American market, a four per cent increase in bookings for conferences and a 30 per cent rise in groups coming to the city.

Mrs Cruddas said: "York has been through a disastrous time and it has not been plain sailing to get to this stage, but we are getting some very positive news.

"We had a phenomenal Easter and two Bank Holidays, and the latest figures look extremely good."

She said that, although US visitor numbers are still poor, numbers of British tourists choosing to come to the city have picked up well.

"York has shown that, when the going gets tough, the city is very good at pulling together and getting through a crisis, and the figures look very positive," she said.

"We are now trying to make sure that visitors keep coming throughout the year and, with things like the UK Snooker Championship in the Barbican, the new Jorvik and exciting things happening at the National Railway Museum, we are getting the message across that York never stands still."

Updated: 16:36 Wednesday, July 11, 2001